Closure for shoes.



J. JRGENS.

CLOSURE POR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE5,1913.

1,107,61 6, Patented Aug.18,1914.

UNTTED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

JOHANN JRGENS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONELHALF TO WOLFGANG VON BIBRA, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW' JERSEY.

CLOSURE FOR SHOES.

i To fill iii/rola 'it may concern.'

Abe it known that I, JoiiANN Jiienss. a citizen of the United States oit' America, and a resident oi. Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State oit New York, have invented certain new and usejlul improvements in Closures it'or Shoes, otl which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a novel closure t'or shoes.

lt pertains particularly to a closing device ioi' shoes, which is removably attached to the open. front portions ot' the upper.n

The present invention has for its .specral purpose to produce a closing device tor shoes by means of which the shoe is closed by a single operation. 1

The device consists essentially ol a plu i'ality of individual lace membersI which comprise each an elastic element forming` its central part. The elastic element 1s elaniped at each side end by a llat rigid shell l'iaving a downwardly extending side end portion bent `inwardly and upwardly at right angles to t'orm a support or rail which .is adapted to slide on an elastic metal strip permanently secured to the margin of the shoe and having a short downward extension reaching into said support. ltleansare provided on the side end portion o'tI the rigid shell having` a pair oit' angularly arranged openings passing therethrough. A cord 1s provided at each side passing through all said openings.

The device is removably secured at the bottom end portion of the upper and the lace members are pushed down on the elastic metal strips oft the margins for the purpose ot openinnl the shoe. When the 'foot has been inserted the device is pulled up along;` said elastic metal strips whereby the shoeis closed by a single operation.

In order to 'render the invention entirely clear reference is had to the aecoinpanying.;` drawing` in which:

Figure l represents in perspective view a shoe in its open condition with the closing device attached thereto embodying` in desirable form the present improvements. Fig. 2 :is a view similar to Fig. l showing the shoe in the closed condition. Fig. 3 illustrates in plan View, on an enlarged scale, one of the lace members. Fig. l is a cross-section on the line .L-fl ot' Fig. S.

like parts in Reterring suitable c, preferably The bars o are rammed Aw. 1s, 1914.

Serial N0. 771,785.

a stay for 5 losing the shoe. iracters of reference denote all the figures. to slice comprising' upper a. which the margins ci'.

the drawing, (i represents a the usual vamp al and the are divided at fr to form A strip oil leather or other material a" is secured to each inargin (d preferably as indicated in Figs. 3 and Ll. ble bar o is attached upon each by meansl ol1 stitching o,

A thin ilexileather strip by means ol the stitchingl fr. preferably composed ot' spring steel and have each a longitudinal short outer end flange o body portion.

the short [langes o during' the nary shoe, as A. plurality at a right angle to its elastic thin bars o with serve as tracks or guides lFliese operation ol" the device and correspond to the usual lace stays oi an ordiwill t'ully appeal' hereinafter.. ol. individual lace members c the flexible bars o.

hach lace member c comprises an elastic central strip (l pi'e'lerably composed ol woven `rubber material.

such elastic To each opposite end ol strip d a yoke shaped member or shell c tightly clamped or otherwise permanently secured. Each yoke-shaped member has an integral downward extension .forming a hor ill). 111110).' llPW 'formed at right angles.

c are proj ecte oi the flexible it'or the purpose ment of the la izontal bottom portion c2 and ard short end flange e3 both These end flanges d between the short flanges b2 bar b and the leather strips a. oi limiting the lateral 1novece ineinbersc and permit of a iree sliding;` movement oi all the lace ineinbers during' tl` A spherical tached to each ie operation oi the device. member f is permanently atyoke shaped member c. Each oi said spherical members is provided with a pair oit angularly arranged openings passing' therethrmigh.

A cord of woven wire,

silk or the like is provided at each side ot' the openinic;1 a, thereof attached each cord having one end to the upper adJacent the lower end of the opening a and each cord y)asses throueh, the ane'ularl arraneed o Jenc :s n z:

ings in all the spherical members f on the corresponding side of the opening c". The 105 top end ot' each cord is tied to the topmost of the individ ble cords are ual lace members. The .flexiprovided for the purpose of limiting the movement of the lace members c and to space said members at equal distance when the shoe is closed or laced, as shown in Fig. 2.

When all the lace members have been drawn up to close the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2, the top member Z1 is closed by pressing it slightly down upon the lower elements of the device. As shown in Fig. 2 the top lace member (Z1 is considerably larger than the other lace members (l to give it a substantial finish and permit of applying securely the closing device, shown in Fig. 5. Any suitable device may be used for this purpose such as clasps similar to those that are used on kid gloves and the like. For the purpose of illustration one device is shown on the drawing in a partial cross-section. In Fig. 5 the flexible bar b is formed with a base parte' near its flange o2. The yoke shaped member e is somewhat. modified and has a top portion e* on the innerv end of which the large elastic top strip of the lace member Z1 is secured. Above the base member e the supporting portion e* of the yoke e has attached thereto a slit button j which is adapted to lodge in the base member for the purpose of closing the device during the wear of the shoe in a similar fashion as a kid glove is closed by means of a clasp. The opposite side portion of the top lace member (Zl'is similarly constructed.` It is evident that this closing device may be of any approved construction but a simple clasp is preferred.

The operation of the device is effected in substantially the following manner: Then it is desired to put on the shoe the single lace members are pushed down as far as possible, as shown in Fig. l whereby the shoe is opened and the foot may easily be inserted. The tongue 71., shown in Fig. l, is then adjusted and the closing device pulled up by a single movement so far that the button j of the clasp reaches the base portion i, the clasp being closed by pressing it slightly. Three openings or base portions are shown to b-e provided at each side of the upper in l? l of the drawing 'for the purpose of applying t-he button in the bottom, middle or top whereby a certain adjustment is attained. In the descrioed manner, the shoe is quickly closed without exertion.

l claim as my invention:

l. A closing device for shoes consisting of a flexible bar with an outer downward end flange at each front portion of the upper of t-he shoe, a central elastic strip, two

yoke shaped members each clamping one side end of said elastic strip, a downward extension 'formed integral with each yoke having an inward horizontal portion and a short upward end flange, means for permitting of pushing the yokes together and pulling them apart along said flexible bars of the shoe, and means at the top end of the device adapted to be closed and released.

2. A closing device for shoes consisting of a flexible bar at each open front portion of the upper of' the shoe, a plurality of' individual lace members, each composed of a central rubber strip, two yoke shaped meinbcrs each clamping one side end of the rubber stripf and having a downward extension, 1an inward horizontal portion, and a short upward end flange, formed integral therewith, a spherical member' with openings secured to each side portion of each yoke, and a flexible cord at each side passing through said openings, means permitting of pushing the yokes together and pulling them apart along said flexible bars of the shoe, and means at the top end of the device adapted to be closed and released.

3. A closing device for shoes consisting of a flexible bar with an outer downward end flange at each open front portion of the upper of the shoe, a plurality of individual lace members composed each of' a central rubber strip, two yokes clamping each one. side end of said rubber strip and forming below angular guides located on the downward flanges of the flexible bars and adapted to slide up and down thereon, a spherical member at each side portion of each yoke provided with a pair of angularly arranged openings passing therethrough, and a cord at each side secured with the lower end to the bot-tom end of the upper passing through said openings of all the spherical members and tied at the top lace member.

Ll. ln a shoe of the type described, a plurality of individual lace members composed each of a central rubber strip, two yokes clamping each one side end of said rubber strip, and a downward extension formed integral with cach yoke having an inward horizontal portion and a short upward end flange.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this lth day of June, 1913.

Jol-mun insonne.

lVitnesses VOLFGANG von BiRA, MARIE LEAHY.

emplea ot thin patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Washington. D. C.

Commissioner of Patents, 

